Mission San Juan Capistrano at 250

I didn’t think I’d write another story, but feliz cumpleaños to Mission San Juan Capistrano in the pretty Orange County town named for the place (1713–1784) established on November 1, 1776. Why raise America 250, which I thought done and over with my pieces on Mount Rushmore and Monticello? Last month, when I visited the mission, I knew it was a historic site, but I didn’t realize 2026 was a landmark year for it.

San Juan Capistrano is called the Jewel of the Missions and was the seventh of 21 Franciscan evangelical outposts from San Diego to Sonoma built between 1769 and 1823. It’s a romantic ruin in a place — southern California — where new is best and old, well, gets the wrecking ball unless it’s Neutra. It’s also been an icon of California’s sense of self for well over a hundred years. Ignorantly trashed by the obvious suspects, the Franciscan padres and the missions still have much to teach us. Ruins speak, too, as do the dead and as does historic preservation.

About the Author

Brian T. Allen

Brian T. Allen is National Review’s art critic.

Featured Tags

Manage following

America at 250

I didn’t think I’d write another story, but feliz cumpleaños to Mission San Juan Capistrano in the pretty Orange County town named for the place (1713–1784) established on November 1, 1776. Why raise America 250, which I thought done and over with my pieces on Mount Rushmore and Monticello? Last month, when I visited the mission, I knew it was a historic site, but I didn’t realize 2026 was a landmark year for it.

San Juan Capistrano is called the Jewel of the Missions and was the seventh of 21 Franciscan evangelical outposts from San Diego to Sonoma built between 1769 and 1823. It’s a romantic ruin in a place — southern California — where new is best and old, well, gets the wrecking ball unless it’s Neutra. It’s also been an icon of California’s sense of self for well over a hundred years. Ignorantly trashed by the obvious suspects, the Franciscan padres and the missions still have much to teach us. Ruins speak, too, as do the dead and as does historic preservation.